Float connector for interconnecting printed circuit boards

ABSTRACT

A float connector for interconnecting printed circuit boards that has a contact assembly including a contacts and a holder and each of the contacts has opposite first and second contact ends for electrically connecting to the boards. A first guide member is slidably and flexibly coupled to the contact assembly and has openings corresponding to the first contact ends. A second guide member is slidably and flexibly coupled to the contact assembly and has openings corresponding to the second contact ends. A biasing member biases the guide members away from one another to an open position. Axial float of the contact assembly is provided between the first and second guide members to compensate for axial misalignment between the first and second printed circuit boards. Radial float of the contact assembly is provided between the first and second guide members to compensate for radial misalignment between the boards.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to U.S. provisional application no. 62/485,628, filed Apr. 14, 2017, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. This application may also be related to commonly owned U.S. application Ser. No. 15/951,059 entitled Float Connector For Interconnecting Printed Circuit Boards, filed Apr. 11, 2018, the entire disclosure of which is also incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a connector for interconnecting two printed circuit boards that is low profile while also providing both axial and radial float between the printed circuit boards.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most board-to-board RF solutions feature a bullet with a signal contact surrounded by a full coaxial ground. For low profile solutions, e.g. below ˜8 mm, the conventional full coaxial bullet is limiting for total achievable misalignment between the printed circuit boards (i.e. float).

Therefore, a need exists for a board-to-board connector that has sufficient float, particularly in low profile applications, to compensate for any misaligned between the circuit boards.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention may provide a float connector for interconnecting printed circuit boards that comprises a contact assembly including a plurality of contacts and a holder configured to axially support the contacts, each of the plurality of contacts having opposite first and second contact ends for electrically connecting to the printed circuit boards; a first guide member slidably and flexibly coupled to the holder of the contact assembly, the first guide member having a plurality of first openings corresponding to each of the first contact ends, respectively; a second guide member slidably and flexibly coupled to the holder of the contact assembly, the second guide member having a plurality of second openings corresponding to each of the second contact ends, respectively; and a biasing member disposed between the first and second guide members, the biasing member biasing the first and second guide members away from one another to an open position. When the first and second guide members are in the open position, the first and second contact ends are recessed in the first and second guide members, respectively, and not exposed. The first and second guide members are movable from the open position to a compressed position in which the biasing member is compressed to expose the first and contact second ends outside of the openings of the first and second guide members, respectively.

In certain embodiments, each of the first and second guide members is axially moveable with respect to the contact assembly along an axis generally parallel to longitudinal axes of the contacts to compensate for axial misalignment between the first and second printed circuit boards; the holder supports each of the plurality of contacts in a clearance fit inside thereof, thereby allowing each contact to radially tilt with respect to the holder to compensate for radial misalignment between the printed circuit boards; comprising at least one first alignment feature supported by the first guide member and at least one second alignment feature supported by the second guide member, the at least one first and second alignment features being configured to align the first and second contact ends, respectively, with a respective printed circuit board for electrical connection thereto; each of the first and second alignment features is coupled to the biasing member; each of the first and second alignment features is an alignment pin with a printed circuit board engaging end for engaging one of the printed circuit boards and an opposite biasing member engagement end for coupling with the biasing member; and/or the biasing member is a compression spring and opposite ends of the compression spring are coupled to the first and second alignment pins, respectively.

In some embodiments, each printed circuit board engaging end of the first and second alignment pins has an extended length that is longer than the first and second contact ends; the first and second alignment pins extend through the first and second guide members, respectively; the first guide member includes at least one first latching feature and the second guide member includes at least one second latching feature, the at least one first and second latching members being configured to couple to the holder of the contact assembly; the first and second latching features are spring arms and each spring arm engages a detent on outer surface of the holder in a snap engagement; the holder of the contact assembly includes an outer recessed channel for accommodating the biasing member; and/or the holder includes one or more latching features configured to engage corresponding latching features of the first and second guide members, respectively.

In other embodiments, the openings of the first and second guide members each include a lead-end geometry to assist with receipt of the first and second contact ends, respectively; the openings of the first and second guide members, respectively, are disposed in plates of the first and second guide members, respectively; and/or the plurality of contacts includes at least one signal and a plurality of ground contacts.

The present invention may also provide a float connector for interconnecting printed circuit boards that comprises a contact assembly including a plurality of contacts and a holder configured to axially support the contacts, each of the plurality of contacts having opposite first and second contact ends for electrically connecting to the printed circuit boards, a first guide member slidably and flexibly coupled to the holder of the contact assembly, the first guide member having a plurality of first openings corresponding to each of the first contact ends, respectively, a second guide member slidably and flexibly coupled to the holder of the contact assembly, the second guide member having a plurality of second openings corresponding to each of the second contact ends, respectively, means for biasing member the first and second guide members away from one another to an open position, means for axial float of the contact assembly between the first and second guide members to compensate for axial misalignment between the first and second printed circuit boards; and means for radial float of the contact assembly between the first and second guide members to compensate for radial misalignment between the first and second printed circuit boards. In one embodiment, the float connector may further comprising means for aligning the first and second contacts ends of the plurality of contacts with one of the printed circuit boards for electrical connection thereto.

The present invention may yet further provide a method of interconnecting first and second printed circuit boards, comprising the steps of providing a float connector comprising a contact assembly, first and second guide members slidably and flexibly coupled to the contact assembly, and a biasing member between the first and second guide members that biases the first and second guide members away from one another, thereby defining an open position of the connector in which first and second contact ends of contacts of the contact assembly are recessed in the first and second guide members, respectively; installing the first guide member onto the first printed circuit board with the float connector in the open position by inserting one or more alignment features of the first guide members into corresponding one or more alignment holes in the first printed circuit board; after installing the first guide member onto the first printed circuit board, aligning the second guide member with one or more alignment holes in the second printed circuit board; after the step of aligning the second guide member, installing the second guide member onto the second printed circuit board with the float connector in the open position by inserting one or more alignment features of the second guide members into the corresponding one or more alignment holes in the second printed circuit board; and compressing the first and second printed circuit boards axially toward one another along an axes generally parallel with a longitudinal axis of the contacts and against the bias of the biasing member until the first and second contact ends are exposed outside of the first and second guide members, respectively, and received in corresponding plated holes in the first and second printed circuit boards, respectively, for electrical connection thereto.

Other embodiments of the method may further comprise the steps of axially aligning the first and second printed circuit boards after the step of installing the first guide member onto the first printed circuit board; radially aligning the first and second printed circuit boards after the step of installing the first guide member onto the first printed circuit board; compressing the first and second print circuit boards towards one another until the first and second guide members abut one another; and/or securing the first and second printed circuit boards to one another after the step of compressing the first and second print circuit boards. In one embodiment, the first and second contact ends slide in corresponding openings in the first and second guide members, respectively, when compressing the first and second printed circuit boards.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a float connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, showing the float connector in an open position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the float connector illustrated in FIG. 1, showing the float connector in a compressed position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a contact assembly of the float connector illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a guide member of the float connector illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the float connector illustrated in FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 6A-6F illustrate the steps of a method of interconnecting printed circuit boards using the float connector illustrated in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

Referring to the figures, the present invention relates to a connector 100, such as an RF board-to-board connector, that has both high float capability and a low profile for interconnecting two printed circuit boards 10 and 12. The connector 100 is effective in applications, such as those with small board spacing, e.g. under ˜8 mm. The connector 100 of the present invention is designed to compensate for both axial and radial misalignment between the circuit boards. The connector 100 of the present invention is designed to achieve higher levels of float even in such low profile applications. The connector 100 is also configured to protect it contacts from damage.

Connector 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention generally includes a contact assembly 110 comprising a plurality of contacts 120 supported by a holder 130 in such a manner as to allow radial tilt of the contacts 120, and first and second guide members 140 slidably and flexibly coupled to the contact assembly 110 and configured to be installed on the first and second printed circuit boards 10 and 12, respectively. One ore more biasing members 150, such as a compression spring, may be disposed between the first and second guide members 140 to provide axial float to the connector and to bias the first and second guide members 140 away from one another to an open position of the connector, as seen in FIG. 1.

As seen in FIG. 3, the holder 130 of the contact assembly 110 includes spaced holes or bores 132 that correspond to the position and number of contacts 120. Each hole 132 accepts and holds axially in place an individual contacts 120. The contacts 120 are axially retained in the holder 130 for assembly and handling. Each contact 120 may include an engagement feature, such as one or more outwardly extending ribs 123, that catches on a shoulder 134 inside of the hole 132, as seen in FIG. 5. In one embodiment, the contacts 120 may be arranged in the holes 132 such that a single signal contact 120 s is in the center of the holder 130 and the ground contacts 120 g are positioned around the signal contact 120 s. The holder 130 may be a non-conductive dielectric body 136 with the holes 132 extending through the body 136. Ends 122 of each of the contacts 120 extend outside of the holder body 136 from opposite longitudinal sides thereof. The contacts 120 may be pins, for example, with the ends 122 thereof preferably being slotted and compliant for resiliently engaging the plated holes 14 of the circuit boards 10 and 12. As such, the interconnect provided by connector 100 may be solderless.

The holder body 130 may include outer recessed channels 138 positioned and size to accommodate one of the biasing members 150. One or more latching features 160 (FIG. 3) are provided on the exterior for cooperating with corresponding latching features 162 (FIG. 4) of the guide frames 140. In one embodiment, the latching feature 160 of the holder 130 is a detent or rib 163 extending from the outer perimeter of the holder 130 and the latching feature 162 of the guide frames 140 is a spring arm 164 that includes a catch 166 at is free end for flexibly snapping over the detent 163. The latching features 160 are preferably positioned at opposite ends 137 and 139 of the holder 130 to accommodate both guide members 140.

Each guide member 140 may have a base that is a plate 142 with a number of guide features, such as spaced openings 144 corresponding to the number, pattern, or arrangement of the contacts 120 supported in the holder 130. Each opening 144 may be generally funnel shaped to provide lead-in geometry 146 to ease and align insertion of the ends 122 of the contacts 120 when mating the contact assembly 110 the respective boards 10 and 12. The lead-in geometry 146 of the openings 144 guide the ends 122 of the contacts 120 into electrical contact with the printed circuit board, that is when inserted into holes 14 thereof, even if the contacts 120 are out of direct alignment to the holes 14. The latching features 162 may be provided at the perimeter 148 of the plate 142 and positioned to correspond to the latching features 160 of the holder 130. In one embodiment, the latching features 162 are disposed at opposite ends of the plate 142, as seen in FIG. 4. That is, one or more spring arms 164 extend from the perimeter 148 of the plate 142 toward the holder 130 for engagement with respective detents 163. One or more stopping elements 169 may also extend from the perimeter 168 of the plate 142. In one embodiment, each stopping element 169 extends between two spring arms 164 at the opposing ends of the plate 142.

One or more alignment features 170 are preferably incorporated with each guide member 140. The alignment features 170 may be alignment pins, for example, that extend through alignment openings 172 in the plate 142 of the guide members 140. Alternatively, the alignment features 170 may be formed integrally with the plate 142 or formed separately and attached to the plate 142. As best seen in FIG. 5, each alignment pin 170 includes one end 174 that is configured to engage one of the printed circuit boards and an opposite end 176 that is configured to engage the biasing member 150. The end 174 of each alignment pin preferably has an extended length L, that is outside of the guide member 140, which is longer than the contact end 122 of the contacts 120, in order to protect the contact ends 120 when the connector 100 is compressed, as seen in FIG. 6B. The opposite end 176 of each alignment pin may be inserted into one of the opposite ends 152 and 154 of the biasing member 150, as seen in FIG. 5, thereby coupling the alignment pins to the biasing member 150. A shoulder 177 may be provided between the ends 174 and 176 for acting as a stop against the plate 142 of the guide members 140. Each alignment pin 170 may also include an engagement feature, such as an outer rib 178, that is configured to engage the respective alignment opening 172 of the guide member 140.

Each guide members 140 is slidably and flexibly coupled to opposing ends 137 and 139, respectively, of the holder 130 of contact assembly 110, with the biasing members 150 between the guide members 140 and the alignment pins 170 coupled to each guide member and also coupled to the biasing members 150 at their ends 176, as best seen in FIG. 5. The guide members 140 may be slidably and flexibly coupled to the holder ends by snap fitting the spring arms 164 of the guide members 140 onto the detents 163 of the holder 130. The spring arms 164 expand and move over the detents 163 until the catch 166 of each spring arm 164 snaps onto a respective detent 163. A bevel 131 may be provided at each end 137 and 139 of the holder 130 to assist with the expansion of the spring arms 164 when assembling the guide members 140 to the holder 130. This flexible coupling between the guide members 140 and the holder 130 results in a general radial centering of the contact assembly 110. Thus, the contact assembly 110 of the connector may be self-centering which assists with proper alignment when mating the connector with the circuit boards 10 and 12. The flexible nature of the spring arms 164 also allows the contacts 120 to tilt within the holder 130 when there is shifting or radial misalignment of the circuit boards 10 and 12 with respect to one another.

The biasing members 150 bias the guide members 140 away from one another to define the open position of the connector 100, as seen in FIG. 5. The latching of the spring arms 164 of the guide members 140 onto to the detents 163 of the holder acts to limit the expansion of the guide members 140 to this open position of the connector. In the open position, the contact ends 122 are recessed in the plates 142 of the guide members 140 to protect the same, such as during shipping and handling. When the connector 100 is compressed, the spring arms 164 are configured to slide along the sides of the housing 130, as seen in FIGS. 6E and 6F, and the contact ends 122 are exposed outside of the guide members 140 for electrical connection to the circuit boards.

The biasing members 150, which bias against compression of the connector 100, allows the contact assembly 110 and its contacts 120 to move axially for insertion into plated holes 14 (FIG. 6A) in the printed circuit boards 10 and 12. That is, the contact assembly 110 may move along an axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axes l of the contacts 120. This movement provides axial float to the connector 100 which compensates for axial misalignment between printed circuit boards 10 and 12. In addition, the contacts 120 preferably have a clearance fit within the holes 132 of the holder 130, as seen in FIG. 5. This allows the individual contacts 120 to tilt with respect to the holes 132 to provide radial float and compensate for radial misalignment between the printed circuit boards 10 and 12. In one embodiment, the contact ends 122 may have one or more generally rounded contact points 124 and a smaller diameter portion 128 to facilitate the free tilting of the contacts 120 without binding when in respective holes 14.

FIGS. 6A-6F illustrate of method of interconnecting printed circuit boards in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The connector 100 itself may assembled prior to installing the connector 100 on the circuit boards. One of the guide members 140 is then installed onto the first printed circuit board 10 with the connector 100 in the open position, as seen in FIG. 6A, by inserting the ends 174 of the alignment pins 170 of the first guide member 140 into corresponding alignment holes 16 in the first circuit board 10. The alignment pins 170 may be soldered to the first circuit board 10 in its alignment holes 16. Next, the second guide member 140 should be aligned with the second printed circuit board 12 in order to install the second guide member 140 onto the board 12. The connector 100 is designed such that when aligning the second guide member 140 with the corresponding alignment holes 16 of the second circuit board 12, the contact ends 122 are protected, as seen in FIG. 6B. That is, if the second guide member 140 is not properly aligned with the second circuit board 12, then the ends 174 of the alignment pins 170 associated with the second guide member 140 will abut the surface of the circuit board 12. Due to the extended length L of each alignment pin 170, the contact ends 122 are still protected even if the connector 100 is compressed.

Once the second guide member is properly aligned with the second circuit board 12, as seen in FIG. 6C, the second guide member may be installed onto the second printed circuit board 12 by inserting the ends 174 of the alignment pins 170 of the second guide member into the corresponding alignment holes 16 in the second board 12, as seen in FIG. 6D. The connector 100 remains in its open position with the contact ends 122 recessed. The alignment pins 170 may be soldered to the alignment holes 16 of the board 12.

Next, the connector 100 may be compressed in order to expose the contacts ends 122 for electrical connection with a respective printed circuit board 10 and 12. As seen in FIG. 6E, the connector 100 may be compressed by compressing the first and second printed circuit boards 10 and 12 axially toward one another to move the guide members 140 toward one another. That is the boards 10 and 12 are compressed along an axes generally parallel with the longitudinal axes of the contacts 120 and against the bias of the biasing members 150 until the contact ends 122 are exposed outside of the first and second guide members 140, respectively, and slide axially into corresponding plated holes 14 in the first and second printed circuit boards 10 and 12, respectively, for electrical connection thereto. As the connector 100 is being compressed, the spring arms 164 of each guide member 140 slides along the sides of the holder 130 of the contact assembly 110. FIG. 6F shows the connector 100 fully compressed in which the stopping elements 169 of each guide member 140 abut one another. The circuit boards 10 and 12 may then be secured together to complete the interconnect.

While particular embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the contacts of the above embodiments may be pin or socket. Also, the connector of the present invention may have non-traditional geometry comprising a matrix of pin or socket contacts. To achieve proper impedance between the signal and ground, it is preferable that the float connector of the present invention have at least one signal and one ground contact. Adding more ground contacts to the above embodiments can improve impedance consistency and shielding to prevent RF from leaking (crosstalk) between closely placed signal lines. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A float connector for interconnecting printed circuit boards, comprising: a contact assembly including a plurality of contacts and a holder configured to axially support the contacts, each of the plurality of contacts having opposite first and second contact ends for electrically connecting to the printed circuit boards; a first guide member slidably and flexibly coupled to the holder of the contact assembly, the first guide member having a plurality of first openings corresponding to each of the first contact ends, respectively; a second guide member slidably and flexibly coupled to the holder of the contact assembly, the second guide member having a plurality of second openings corresponding to each of the second contact ends, respectively; and a biasing member disposed between the first and second guide members, the biasing member biasing the first and second guide members away from one another to an open position, wherein when the first and second guide members are in the open position, the first and second contact ends are recessed in the first and second guide members, respectively, and not exposed, wherein the first and second guide members are movable from the open position to a compressed position in which the biasing member is compressed to expose the first and second contact ends outside of the openings of the first and second guide members, respectively, and wherein each of the first and second guide members is axially moveable with respect to the contact assembly along an axis generally parallel to longitudinal axes of the contacts to compensate for axial misalignment between the first and second printed circuit boards.
 2. The float connector of claim 1, wherein the holder supports each of the plurality of contacts in a clearance fit inside thereof, thereby allowing each contact to radially tilt with respect to the holder to compensate for radial misalignment between the printed circuit boards.
 3. The float connector of claim 1, further comprising at least one first alignment feature supported by the first guide member and at least one second alignment feature supported by the second guide member, the at least one first and second alignment features being configured to align the first and second contact ends, respectively, with a respective printed circuit board for electrical connection thereto.
 4. The float connector of claim 3, wherein each of the first and second alignment features is coupled to the biasing member.
 5. The float connector of claim 3, wherein each of the first and second alignment features is an alignment pin with a printed circuit board engaging end for engaging one of the printed circuit boards and an opposite biasing member engagement end for coupling with the biasing member.
 6. The float connector of claim 5, wherein the biasing member is a compression spring and opposite ends of the compression spring are coupled to the first and second alignment pins, respectively.
 7. The float connector of claim 5, wherein each printed circuit board engaging end of the first and second alignment pins has an extended length that is longer than the first and second contact ends.
 8. The float connector of claim 5, wherein the first and second alignment pins extend through the first and second guide members, respectively.
 9. The float connector of claim 1, wherein the first guide member includes at least one first latching feature and the second guide member includes at least one second latching feature, the at least one first and second latching members being configured to couple to the holder of the contact assembly.
 10. The float connector of claim 9, wherein the first and second latching features are spring arms and each spring arm engages a detent on outer surface of the holder in a snap engagement.
 11. The float connector of claim 1, wherein the holder of the contact assembly includes an outer recessed channel for accommodating the biasing member.
 12. The float connector of claim 11, wherein the holder includes one or more latching features configured to engage corresponding latching features of the first and second guide members, respectively.
 13. The float connector of claim 1, wherein the openings of the first and second guide members each include a lead-end geometry to assist with receipt of the first and second contact ends, respectively.
 14. The float connector of claim 13, wherein the openings of the first and second guide members, respectively, are disposed in plates of the first and second guide members, respectively.
 15. The float connector of claim 1, wherein the plurality of contacts includes at least one signal and a plurality of ground contacts.
 16. A float connector for interconnecting printed circuit boards, comprising: a contact assembly including a plurality of contacts and a holder configured to axially support the contacts, each of the plurality of contacts having opposite first and second contact ends for electrically connecting to the printed circuit boards; a first guide member slidably and flexibly coupled to the holder of the contact assembly, the first guide member having a plurality of first openings corresponding to each of the first contact ends, respectively; a second guide member slidably and flexibly coupled to the holder of the contact assembly, the second guide member having a plurality of second openings corresponding to each of the second contact ends, respectively; and a biasing member disposed between the first and second guide members, the biasing member biasing the first and second guide members away from one another to an open position, wherein when the first and second guide members are in the open position, the first and second contact ends are recessed in the first and second guide members, respectively, and not exposed, wherein the first and second guide members are movable from the open position to a compressed position in which the biasing member is compressed to expose the first and second contact ends outside of the openings of the first and second guide members, respectively, and wherein the holder supports each of the plurality of contacts in a clearance fit inside thereof, thereby allowing each contact to radially tilt with respect to the holder to compensate for radial misalignment between the printed circuit boards.
 17. A float connector for interconnecting printed circuit boards, comprising: a contact assembly including a plurality of contacts and a holder configured to axially support the contacts, each of the plurality of contacts having opposite first and second contact ends for electrically connecting to the printed circuit boards; a first guide member slidably and flexibly coupled to the holder of the contact assembly, the first guide member having a plurality of first openings corresponding to each of the first contact ends, respectively; a second guide member slidably and flexibly coupled to the holder of the contact assembly, the second guide member having a plurality of second openings corresponding to each of the second contact ends, respectively; a biasing member disposed between the first and second guide members, the biasing member biasing the first and second guide members away from one another to an open position; at least one first alignment feature supported by the first guide member and at least one second alignment feature supported by the second guide member, the at least one first and second alignment features being configured to align the first and second contact ends, respectively, with a respective printed circuit board for electrical connection thereto, wherein when the first and second guide members are in the open position, the first and second contact ends are recessed in the first and second guide members, respectively, and not exposed, and wherein the first and second guide members are movable from the open position to a compressed position in which the biasing member is compressed to expose the first and second contact ends outside of the openings of the first and second guide members, respectively. 